SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JULY 20: Michael Ennis of the Bulldogs looks on during the round 19 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on July 20, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

PUT the high-class forward pack and the strength in the second phase on the backburner.

It’s the niggle the North Queensland Cowboys want to control tonight against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Even though Johnathan Thurston’s chief tormentor during the State of Origin ser­ies, Josh Reynolds, will be on the sidelines through suspension, hooker “the Menace” Mich­ael Ennis is still there.

Cowboys backrower Tariq Sims professed his admiration for Cronulla-bound Ennis when asked about the Bulldogs’ biggest threats, saying it was almost as important for his side to ignore the Canterbury vocal tactics as much as control their offloading ability.

North Queensland did well to restrict Cronulla’s second phase last week, one of the better offloading teams in the NRL, but will need more of the same against the Bulldogs.

“We worked a lot on it (limiting offloads) and another thing we’ll have to work on is ignoring the niggle from Mick Ennis,” Sims said.

“I love the way he plays and it’s great to see there’s still characters in the game like Mick Ennis.

“The second phase is one of the strongest points for the Dogs so again it’s a big focus for us and we’re going to have to make sure we’re on top of that.”

The Bulldogs’ heavy loss last week against the Wests Tig­ers will be extra motivation for the Sydney club, Sims said.

“We’ve seen it so many times in the NRL that if they’re coming off the back of a big loss then they seem to try and turn it around the week after,” he said.

“We’ve already identified that and anticipated it and try and make sure we come out on top and put our best foot forward early.”

In a boost for the Bulldogs, Blues centre Josh Morris will make his return from injury this week. He will line up opposite Kane Linnett and the Cowboy was hoping to be enough of a trouble to the Origin player himself.

“He’s a star player, an Origin player, and he’s had a bit of injuries lately but I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” Linnett said.